Hoisting and traveling cable-crane



- 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. F. BROTHERS. HOISTING AND TRAVELING CABLE CRANE. No. 551, 13.

Patented Dec. 1'7, 1895.

AN DREW EGRAHAM. PuoroumQWASHl NSTON DYC (No Model.) I 5 SheetsSheet 2.W. F. BROTHERS. HOISTING AND TRAVELING CABLE CRANE.

Patented Dec. 1'7,-1895.

J44 w n 601 su/ A AN DREW\ EfiHMiAM. PHOTOUTHQWASHINGTDNJL (Np Model.).5 Shets-Sheet a.

W, P. BROTHERS. HOISTING AND TRAVELING CABLE CRANE.

115. 551.613. I Patented 1155. 17, 1895;

6N0 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. P. BROTHERS.

. v HOISTING AND TRAVELING GABLE CRANE. 1N0. 551,613. Patented Dec. 17,1895.

(No Model.) 5 hets sheet' 5.-

W. F. BROTHERS. HOISTING AND TRAVELING CABLE CRANE-V No. 551,613.Patented Dec. 17; 1895.

6} G \\l I 1 m Fig/6.

v m in 0555646.- I /maeaiqr UNITED STATES ATBENT" OF ICE.

\VILLIAM -F; BROTHERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SARAH E.BROTHERS, OF SAME PLACE, AND MARIA A. BROW'N, OF PLAINFIELD, NEXVJERSEY.

HOISTING AN D TRAVELING CABLE-GRAN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,613, dated December17, 1895.

' Application filed July 18, 1895. Serial No. 556,326. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: section where hatched; Fig. 2, a side viewor Be it known that I, ILLIAM F. BROTHERS, elevation of the same; andFig. 3, a plan of a citizen of the United States, residing at thetruck-frame in section where hatched, on

Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have inline 3 3 in Fig. 2, with thedriving-wheels and vented certain new and useful Improvementscarrier-frame removed, showing the connec- 5 5 in Hoisting and TravelingOable- Cranes, tion of the driving-pinion with the friction fullydescribed and represented in the followdriving-wheel and the connectionsfor actuing specification and the accompanying drawating thegrip-wheels. Fig. 4 is a plan of the ings, forming a part of the same.carrier-frame on line 4. 4 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5

I0 This invention relates to such carriers for is a plan of the hoistingdevices with the side cable-cranes as are suspended upon a cable bars ofthe carrier-frame to which they are pivand propelled by an electricmotor, with suitvoted and the brake for the hoister frictionable gearingupon the carrier to connect the wheel. Fig. 6 is aplan of the side ofthe carriermotor with the driving-wheels upon the cable, frame where thefriction-wheel I of the elec- 15 and suitable hoisting mechanismconnected tric motor is located, the frame G being shoml by gearing withthe motor to raise and lower in section through the slot 3 just abovethe a load suspended from the carrier. armature-shaft and the parts onthe left of The improvements consist, partly, inmeans such slot beingshown in plan. Fig. 7 is a for enabling the driving-wheels to grip theplan of the principal parts of the apparatus,

20 cable upon which-the carrier is suspended, excepting the drum 1).Fig. 8 is a side eleand thus obtain the desired amount of tractvation ofthe principal parts of the apparatus, ive force, partly in means formaintaining both figures being shaded Figs. 9 to 14 exthe verticalposition of the carrier when the hibit elevations of the principaldetails of the truck-frame is tipped by the curve or angle apparatus,Fig. 9 showing the hoisting-drums 25 of the cable, partly in an improvedmeans with their shafts and worm-wheels and the of reversing therotations of the drivingframes K and K which support said shafts. Wheelsand hoisting-drum, partly in means Fig. 10 is a side elevation of thecentral hoistfor automatically applying brakes to the driver-frame K.Fig. 11 is a plan of the trucking-wheels or hoisting-drum whendisconframe F with the springdrum 1) thereon.

3o nected from the motor, and partly in a means Fig. 12 is a sideelevation of the truck-frame for attaching the hoisting mechanismpivotwith the drum omitted. Fig. 13 is a side View ally upon the carrierto oscillate the same for of the carrier-frame with the centralhoisteractuating its gearing. frame K, and Fig. 1a is a front view ofthe The drawings illustrate the invention partly carrier-frame with thecentral hoister-frame 3 5 in connected views, as in Figures 1, 2, 7 andK and the lateral hoister-frames K and the 8, and partly in sectionalplans and detail drum-shaft fitted in the bearings of such drawings inthe remainder of the figures. frames. The shaft 71 handle 11 and links 0Figs. 1 and 2 show in dotted lines the parts for oscillating thehoister-frame are shown which are obscured by others, and are not inFig. 13, but are omitted from Fig. 14 to eX- 1 40 therefore shaded,while Figs. 7 and 8 do not pose the pivot-bolt K upon which thehoistshow any parts in dotted lines, and are thereer-frames are pivoted.A few of the attachfore shaded to show the true forms of the ments tothe carrier-frame are shown in Figs. parts. Figs. 1 and 2 show all theparts in their 13 and 14:. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the properrelation, while certain parts are omittruck-frame and carrier-frame witha few of 45 ted from the other figures to expose more imthe attachedpartsto illustrate the electrical portant parts. connections for themotor. Fig. 16 is an edge The invention will be understood by referviewof the carrier-frame with the motor and ence to the annexed drawin s inwhichart of its electrical connections.

Fig. 1 is an edge view of the carrier with A designates a portion of thesuspending 50 one of the driving-wheels shown partly in cable, and B thebody of the driving-wheels I00 having the india-rubber tire G fitted inits periphery and grooved to embrace the cable, with cog-teeth D at eachside of the tire, as shown at the upper part of the driving-wheel inFig. 1. The wheels are provided with axles B fitted to bearings F uponthe truck-frame F. The truck-frame is formed with bearings E for theshaft of a driving-pinion E meshing with the cogs upon both thedriving-wheels. The frame F is formed at opposite sides with projectingjournals F concentric with the pinion E, and the carrier-frame G is hungupon such journals, so as to maintain a vertical position whatever theangle of the cable. The shaft 6 of the pinion E is made tubular, and aspindle e is fitted loosely within the same and attached thereto at oneend by a squared shank c and nut c Near the opposite end of the spindle,at the outer end of the journal F a vertically-movable bearing f isfitted to the spindle, and a driving friction-wheel H is attached to thespindle outside the bearing. An eccentric shaft f is provided to movethe bearing vertically, and a hand-lever f is attached to the shaft toturn the same and press the wheel l-l downward at pleasure. Theeccentric shaft is supported in the frame G below the spindle c at rightangles to the latter, and the eccentric portion of the shaft is fittedto an eye upon the lower end of the bearingf, so that the rotation ofthe shaft by the hand-leverf moves the bearingfupward and downward andthus presses the driving-wheel 71. against the brake H or against thearmature friction-wheel I at pleasure. A split bearingf is shown appliedto the outer end of the shaft f and pro vided with a clamp-screw c toadjust the pressure upon the shaft. By lining such bearing with leathera suitable degree of friction may be exerted to retain the shaft in anyposition in which it is placed by the lever f and thus hold the wheel 72into or out of contact with the wheel I. The shafts actuated by theother hand-levers shown herein may be provided with similarfriction-clamps.

Bearings F are attached to the frame F, and eccentric spindles g arefitted to the same, with grip-pulleys 1 mounted thereon beneath thecenters of the drivers B. Cranks g are attached to the spindles andconnected by link g, and a handle g is provided to oscillate thespindles simultaneously and thus press the grip-wheel's upon the underside of the cable to increase the frictional grip of the driving-wheelsB when desired.

The carrier-frame G supports an electric motor 1 having itsarmature-shaft 1 provided at the outer end with a friction-wheel I toactuate the friction driving-wheel II.

The holster is shown with four drums K" mounted upon two drum-shafts 7t,which are journaled in hoister-frames K and K. These frames are pivotedupon a bolt K extended through depending flanges 92 and 72. upon thebottom of the carrier frame G. The outer frames K are shown in Fig. 1triangular in form and supporting the outer ends of the drum-shafts. Thecentral frame K is made of box form with parallel side plates havingbearings for the drum-shafts, and bearings at its opposite ends for aworm-spindle Z. The drum-shafts 7.: are provided inside the frame K withworm-wheels m, and the shaft Z is provided with worms m meshing into theworm.- wheels, and upon its outer end with a hoister friction-wheel J tooperate with the armature friction-wheel I.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the frame K without the shaft Z, while Fig. 13 showsthe frame with the shaft, and Figs. 1, 2, and 5 show all the parts insuitable connection with one another.

The four drums K are provided with hoistropes wound in pairs, asindicated by the line K in Fig. l, a hoisting-sheave being placed in thebight of each rope to support the load, as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 1. By using four drums and two hoist-ropes the load may be grippedat two points, and its twisting may be prevented during the hoistingoperation. Such construction is especially adaptedfor supporting alife-boat upon the carrier to transport it over the surf and deposit itin the still water beyond, as set forth in my application, Serial No.556,327, filed July 18, 1805, for improvements in cable-crane withgravityanchor. A shaft n is journaled in the flanges n n and providedwith an eccentric 0 connected by links 0 with a pin 0 upon the frame K.The shaft is provided with handle it", and a seat or chair L is attachedby bracket w to the side of the carrier-frame to carry an operatorwithin reach of such handle and the leversf and The seat L is indicatedby a heavy dotted line only in Fig. 1., to avoid obscuring the otherparts, but is fully shown in Figs. 2, 4-, 7 and 8.

The movement of the handle n serves to escillate the hoister-frame andpress the hoister friction-wheel J against the armature-wheel I when itis desired to rotate the drums for hoisting, and in like manner thelever f serves, by turning the eccentric-sleeve)", to depress thespindle e and crowd the friction-wheel ll against the armature-wheel Iwhen it is desired to rotate the drivers B.

A brake-shoe H is fixed upon the frame F and operates, when the wheel Ifis retracted from the wheel I, to arrest the motion of thedriversbyfrictionalresistance. Abrake-shoc J is fixed by arms J to theframe G beneath the hoister-wheel J, and operates upon the wheel J toarrest the hoisting mechanism or to hold the same in a fixed position.By relaxing the pressure upon the handle a which oscillates thehoister-frame the brakc-shoe may release the wheel J in a suitabledegree to lower a load at any desired speed. A springdrum (2 is pivotedupon a stand 0 on top of the truck-frame F, and a flexible electriccord 1) is wound upon the drum, and mayhave its farther end attached toany fixed source of electricity or to a trolley-wheel running upon atrolley-wire. In. the latter case the cord b would extend upwardly, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, or at some angle with the cable A, and thespring-drum serves to take up the slack of the electric cord orconductor, as the carrier moves along the cable A, in cases where thetrolley-Wire is not parallel with such cable, which case is commonlyfound in. practice. WVhere the electric cord is attached to a fixedsupport, it would extend substantially parallel with the cable A, andwould be of suitable length to permit the desired traverse of thecarrier upon the cable. The electric cord is then, by its attachment tothe springdrum, wound and unwound from the drum as the carrier moves inopposite directions upon the cable. The bearings z' for thearmatureshaft 1 are shown in Figs. 15 and 16, with the commutator 2adjacent to one of the bearings, and the brushes 2 and .2 applied to thecommutator, with an electrical connection 2 extended from the brush .2to thebearing 0 which supports the drum 1) for the trolley-cord. Thebearing 0 would, in practice, be insulated upon the truck-frame F, andthe conductor I) would have its terminalin electrical connection withthe drum, so that the current might flow therefrom through the bearing 0to the brush z. The other brush .2 is shown connected by wire 20 withaspring bar to pressed upon the cable A. The indiarubber insulating-tiresC upon the drivingwheels insulate the entire apparatus from the cable,and the trolley-wire thus furnishes the direct conductor for the motor,and the cable A the conductor for the return-current. To reverse themovements ofthe drivers B, I provide an intermediate friction --wheel h,which may be pressed between the armature Wheel I and the friction-wheelH when the latter is held intermediate to the wheel I and brake-shoe H.

The axle of the wheel h is sustained in the ends of links r, and isprojected laterally into a slot 8 in the frame G. The links are pinnedat their opposite ends to a block 8, and a screw 8 is projected from theblock through a bearing upon the carrier-frame G. The screw 8 connectsthe block with a rotary hand-nut r within reach of the operator, andserves, when desired, to crowd the wheel it between the wheels H and I.When the latter wheels are separated, as shown in Fig. 2, and the wheelH is clear of its brake-shoe, the wheel h transmits the motion of theelectric motor in a reverse direction to the drivers B. The slot 8prevents the displacement of the wheel 77. when not in operation, but ismade loose enough laterally to permit the intermediate wheel h to findits bearings upon the wheels H and I when pressed between the same. Thelinks 4" pass upon opposite sides of the armature. friction-wheel I, andthe block 5 and screw hthus lie opposite one edge of the armature-wheel,while the intermediate wheel h or 71- is upon the opposite edge of thewheel. By this arrangementthe draft of the screw presses theintermediate wheel squarely against the edge of the armature-wheel, andthe intermediate wheel does not therefore need any guide or support whenin operation. The projection of the axle r loosely Within the slot 8 asshown in Figs. 2 and 6, is simply to hold the intermediate wheelapproximately in position whenit is not in operation. An intermediate.wheel 71.

is similarly arranged to operate with the outer frames K are oscillatedtherewith, as they swing loosely upon the pivot-bolt K and move freelywith the drum-shafts Ya.

I have shown four drums upon the hoisterframe, as such constructionenables me to wind four ropes simultaneously, and thus to hold and liftany large object, like a, boat, parallel with the axles of the drums;but it is obvious that the hoisting mechanism may be provided with oneor two drums only, if. preferred. With the use of two drums and When thecentral hoister-frame K is oscillated by the means provided, the

a hoisting-pulley in the bight of the rope,

the thrust upon the worms may be balanced, as is indicated by thereverse direction of the screw-threads upon the worms m in Fig. 5.

By forming the carrier-frame G distinct from the truck-frame the latteris enabled to maintain a vertical position when the carrier is movingalong an inclined cable, and by forming the journals F for thecarrier-frame concentric with the driving-pinion E the gearingconnecting the motor with such pinion may be located upon the carrierand operate upon the pinion as the carrier swings upon the journals.

As the tension upon the anchorage of a ca-' ble is greatly diminished bymaking the cable slack, it is obvious that such reduction of the tensionis accompanied by an increased inclination of the cable near itsbearings or supports, and it is therefore important to hinge thecarrier-frame to the truck-frame, as shown herein, so as to maintain thecarrierframe in a vertical position when approaching the supports of thecable. As the drivingwheels are liable to slip upon the cable when thelatter is thus inclined, the rubber tire in the rims of the drivers isprovided, to afford a powerful grip upon the cable, and prevents thedriving-wheels from slipping when the carrier is ascending such inclinedportions of the cable. By its insertion between the two rows of teeth Dupon the driving-wheels the rubber tire is entirely detachable, and maythus be renewed whenever it is worn. By providing cog-teeth at bothedges of the rubber tire, and making the pinion E mesh with both, thedriving-strain is centralized and the driving-wheels are prevented fromtwisting laterally under the strain of the driving-pinion.. lVhere themotor upon the carrier is supplied with an electric current by a trolleyrunning upon a trolley-wire, the spring-drum b is of great utility inmaintaining a tension upon the electric cord or conductor 1), and thuspreventing any jerks which are liable to strain the conductor if theslack in the same is suddenly taken up.

\Vhere the carrier is reciprocated through a limited space upon thecable, the electric cord attached at one end to a fixed support, withthe other end wound upon the springdrum, furnishes a far more perfectconductor than a trolley running loosely upon a conductin g-wire.

wheel only for each, and the whole construction thus performs a greatmany functions with the use of very few parts.

In carriers of this description it has been common to actuate twodriving-wheels by a single chain extended from a sprocketrwheel drivenby the motor. My construction enables me to avoid the use of chains andto employ direct gearing, which term maybe used to defineeither thefriction-wheels I and 1 II or the cogged wheels D and E. As the tire 0drives the carrier along the cable when rotated thereon, 1t 1s obviouslyimmaterial whether or not the cog-wheels D be formed in the same castingwith the wheel which carries the tire, and I have therefore claimedcog-wheels for rotating the driving-wheels when the truck-frame isprovided with intermediate journals and with a pinion to mesh with bothof said cog-wheels.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim hereinis 1. In a carrier for cable cranes, the combination, with the truckframe F having two driving wheels B fitted to the cable A, and cogwheels connected with such driving wheels, of the bearings E upon thetruck frame intermediate to the bearings of the driving wheels, theshaft 6 fitted to such bearings and provided with pinion E meshing withboth of such cog wheels, the journals F projected from the frame Fconcentric with the bearings E, and intermediate to the driving wheels,the carrier frame Ghung upon such journals and thus jointed to the truckframe by a single pivot, an electric motor mounted upon such carrierframe, gearing connecting the said motor with the pinion E, andelectrical connections for operating the motor, the whole arranged andoperated as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a carrier for cable cranes, the combination, with driving wheelsresting upon the cable, of a truck frame supported by the same,

The reversing-wheels h h enable me to reverse the motion of the hoistingor driving gears with the addition of a single a driving pinionconnected with such wheels and mounted upon said frame, with shaft andjournals at the ends, a carrier frame hung upon such journals and anelectric motor and hoisting mechanism mounted upon said frame, withgearing for connecting the motor at pleasure with the hoisting mechanismand with the driving pinion, substantially as herein set forth.

3. I11 a carrier for cable cranes, the combination, with driving wheelsresting upon the cable, of a frame supported by the same, a drivingpinion mounted upon said frame, an electric motor mounted upon suchcarrier frame with a friction wheel upon its armature shaft anddetachably connected to such driving pinion, a hoisting frame pivotedbelow the carrier frame and sustaining hoisting mechanism provided witha hoister friction driving wheel, and means for oscillatin g the hoisterframe to press such wheel upon the armature friction wheel,as and forthe purpose set forth.

4. In a carrier for cable cranes, the combination, with driving wheelsresting upon the cable, of a truck frame supported by the same, adriving pinion connected with such wheels and mounted upon said frame,with shaft and journals at the ends, a carrier frame hung upon suchjournals, an electric motor mounted upon such carrier f who with anarmature friction wheel upon its armature shaft, a fricti on wheelconnected with the said pinion and movable to and from the armaturewheel, a hoister frame pivoted to the carrier frame and sustaininghoisting mechanism provided with a hoister friction wheel, and means foroscillating the hoisted frame with its contained mechanism to and fromthe armature wheel, to impart motion to the hoister friction wheel,substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a carrier for cable cranes, the combination, with driving wheelsresting upon the cable, of a frame supported by the same, a drivingfriction wheel II mounted upon said frame and connected by pinion E withsuch driving wheels, an electric motor upon such carrier frame with anarmature friction wheel upon its armature shaft, hoisting mechanismprovided with a hoister friction wheel, means for pressing the drivingfriction wheel II and the hoister frictionwheel at pleasure toward thearmature wheel, and stationary brakeshoes upon the framing upon theouter sides of the drivingfriction wheel and hoister friction wheeladapted to check the same when they are retracted from the armaturewheel, substantially as herein set forth.

6. In a carrier for cable cranes, the combination, with driving wheelsresting upon the cable, of a frame supported by the same, a frictiondriving wheel mounted upon said frame and connected with such drivingwheels, an electric motor upon such carrier frame with an armaturefriction wheel upon its armature shaft, means for pressing the frictiondriving wheel toward the armature wheel to rotate the truck wheels in agiven direction, and an intermediate friction wheel with means forpressing it upon the armature wheel and upon the driving friction wheelto reverse the motion of the driving wheels, as herein set forth.

7. In a carrier for cable cranes, the combination, with driving wheelsresting upon the cable,of a frame supported by the same,a drivingfriction wheel mounted upon said frame and connected with such drivingwheels, an

8. In a carrier for cable cranes, the combination, with the carrierframe and an electric motor sustained thereon with suitable electricalconnections for operating the same, of two driving wheels resting uponthe cable and suitably journaled to support the weight of the carrier,grip pulleys applied to the cable opposite to the driving wheels,andprovided with eccentric axles as set forth, cranks and a link forconnecting such eccentric axles, and means for actuating the same byhand, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM F. BROTHERS.

Witnesses:

L. LEE, THOMAS S. CRANE.

